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What is required for a person to deserve a reward?
Ordinarily,a person does not deserve a reward for having done a morally good act,that is,for an act which is right and was done from morally good motives or from a desire to do one’s duty. For example,a person normally does not deserve a reward
- for acting from morally good motives alone.
- for deliberately not doing something which is a wrong act. For example,a child is not rewarded for not throwing snowballs at cars on the street.
- for being a morally good agent,that is a person who has a disposition to do what is right. For example,a person is not rewarded for having a disposition to assist first graders button up their coats.
- for doing his duty. If he did his duty from a sense of duty instead of from fear of punishment,he might deserve approval but,normally,not a reward.
People seem to deserve rewards only for the two situations
- a person performs a difficult duty which many people frequently fail to perform
- when a person does something which is beyond the call of duty.
In summary,it would seem that in most situations people do not deserve anything more than approval.
Arthur in Emma with the support of a faith community
When Emma was told about the decision of the church Board to ‘to establish a community outreach centre in their church’s neighbourhood’ after the church would be closed,she was most grateful. She wrote the following letter to Arthur,the chair of the Board.
Arthur read the letter to the Board and invited comments. To a person,they insisted they did not deserve a reward. They had simply acted as someone who has a disposition to do what is right. Furthermore,they had conducted extensive deliberations to ensure that they were doing the right thing when they decided to close the church and establish a community outreach centre in their church’s neighbourhood. Those are,in their collective opinion no reasons for being rewarded.
Had they done a difficult duty which many people frequently fail to perform? Yes,the decision had been difficult,but they felt any sincere board members facing the problems they faced could have made the same decision. They certainly had not gone beyond the call of duty in making these decisions.
What might have been a course of action that could be considered going beyond the call of duty? Suppose the sale of the church did not generate sufficient funds to set up a community centre. If one or more of the Board members decided to come up with the difference at considerable cost to them,that might be considered going beyond the call of duty. Most people might not make that financial commitment.
The Board thanked Emma for her kind thoughts.
To read Emma’s story and the support she received from a church,click HERE.
